How it Works
AmericanSitters.com provides families across the United States with a faster, more affordable way to find trusted caregivers. Unlike traditional agencies, the platform puts you in full control. With a simple, user-friendly interface, you can search thousands of caregiver profiles at your own pace, or post a job so sitters come directly to you. Benefits for Families – Premium Membership Free for a Limited Time • Unlimited Access Explore thousands of caregiver profiles and post as many jobs as you need. Premium members can view full contact details and message caregivers without limits. Basic (free) members can send one message and receive one reply, but contact information remains hidden. • Direct Hiring, Lower Costs Connect with caregivers directly—no agency fees or middlemen. You choose who to hire and pay them directly, saving you the thousands of dollars that agencies often charge. • Customized Searches Use advanced filters to find the perfect match: search by location (city, zip code, map view, and distance), experience, qualifications, education, availability, and even language. • Reviewed Profiles Every caregiver goes through phone number and identity verification. Families can also see: • Reviews from other parents and employers • Background check status • Profile badges for uploaded references, IDs, driver’s licenses, CPR/First Aid certifications, and more (all reviewed by our team) Tip: Always ask to see original documents in person during interviews. • Personal Touch Some profiles include audio introductions and storytelling samples, letting you hear caregivers present themselves in their own words—and even read stories aloud, showcasing warmth, creativity, and connection. • Mobile App – Hire Anytime, Anywhere Stay connected on the go with our easy-to-use mobile app for iOS and Android. Search, message, and manage your job posts wherever you are—so you never miss a great opportunity.
After registering and logging in, search for the type of caregiver you need. Each sitter’s profile includes a contact form to message them directly. You’ll receive an email when they reply, and you can continue the conversation in My Messages. Some candidates list a phone number, visible to Premium members. Basic members can send one free message and read one reply (with contact details hidden). For unlimited conversations and visible contact details, upgrade to Premium.
Posting a job is completely free, and you can create more than one listing — for example, if you need both a full-time nanny and a weekly house cleaner. We recommend writing a detailed job description so that suitable candidates can easily find and contact you. To post a job: 1. Click "Post a Job". 2. Select the job type and fill in the details (position, requirements, hours, etc.). 3. Publish your listing. All responses will appear under My Messages and Candidate Applications. If you choose to display your phone number, candidates may also contact you directly by phone. Based on your job description, our smart matching system will also suggest suitable candidates for your position.
Safety is our top priority. We screen caregivers before they can become active on the platform. While no online system replaces your own due diligence, here’s what we do: • Phone Number & Carrier Validation – Only valid carrier numbers are accepted; internet or untraceable numbers are blocked. • Identity Verification – All candidates must pass identity verification using advanced anti-fraud prevention tools, which confirm that each user is genuine and who they claim to be. • Sex Offender Registry Check – All new members are cross-checked against the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW). • Community Reviews & Recommendations – Candidates are encouraged to receive reviews from families or former employers. • Optional Background Checks – Candidates who complete a basic background check receive a profile badge. This check may include: o Social Security Number Trace o National Criminal Database search o Sex offender databases covering all 50 states o Global Sanctions Research
Note: A County Criminal Search is limited to the sitter’s current county. If completed, it will be listed in the badge description. Because the basic check does not cover all counties, families may also order enhanced checks for added assurance. The NSOPW is a public database, and while we cross-reference it, we cannot guarantee 100% accuracy.
You pay your caregiver directly, which saves you the significant costs that traditional agencies often charge. The pay rate and conditions are fully negotiable between you and the caregiver. Rates typically depend on several factors, including: • The caregiver’s experience and qualifications • The duties required (childcare, household help, driving, etc.) • The number and ages of children or dependents • The number of hours and type of schedule (part-time, full-time, live-in, etc.) • Your location and local market rates Wages should never be below your state’s minimum wage (or the federally mandated minimum if higher). Many families choose to pay above minimum wage to attract experienced and reliable caregivers. We recommend discussing and agreeing on pay and benefits directly with your caregiver and making sure both parties are clear on the terms before the job begins.
Basic Membership (Free): Browse all sitter profiles, send one message, and read one reply (contact information remains hidden). Premium Membership (Free for a limited time): Enjoy unlimited messaging, full access to contact details and references, and the ability to post unlimited job listings. Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each term unless canceled (see cancellation details below). A small verification fee may apply to cover the cost of ID verification. This fee may appear separately or be included as part of your Premium Membership plan.
Log in and go to Purchases in your account settings. There you can disable auto-renewal any time before the next billing date. Your Premium access will remain active until the end of the paid period. Tip: Cancel at least one day before renewal to avoid charges. Your invoice shows your next billing date.
To maintain a safe and trustworthy community, both sitters and employers on AmericanSitters are required to verify their identities through Veriff.com, a secure third-party verification provider. During this process, users upload a valid government-issued ID (such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID) and may be asked to take a short selfie video to confirm the ID belongs to them. This verification ensures that everyone on the platform — families and caregivers alike — is a real, traceable person, not using fake or stolen identities. It also confirms that sitters meet the minimum age requirement (18+), supports our background screening process, and helps build mutual trust between both sides of the community. Only the verification result (a “Verified ID” badge) appears on each user’s profile; no ID documents are ever displayed publicly or stored on AmericanSitters’ servers. All verification data is processed and securely protected by Veriff under strict privacy and data protection standards. Please note: a small verification fee may apply to cover the cost of processing the ID check. This fee may appear separately or be included as part of a Premium Membership plan.
Yes. Families can initiate an enhanced background check directly from the Background Check menu and pay the third-party provider directly. This option goes beyond the basic checks and badges shown on profiles and is strongly recommended before finalizing a hire. The enhanced background check may include: • SSN Trace – Provides name history, current and past addresses, and movement patterns based on the Social Security Number. Verifies against the SSA Death Master File and confirms the state/year of issuance. • National Criminal – A multi-jurisdictional search of criminal records and sex offender databases from all 50 states, combined with a Social Security Number trace. Includes Global Sanctions research across 130+ international agencies (e.g., FBI, Interpol, OFAC) and Financial Sanctions research covering 100+ sources (e.g., FDIC, Federal Reserve, EU). • County Criminal (7-year scope, up to 3 counties) – Criminal record searches in relevant counties over the past seven years, conducted directly at local courthouses. Note: Additional county court or access fees may apply. These checks are conducted by an independent, accredited consumer reporting agency in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and state laws, and always require the caregiver’s consent. Important – Adverse Action Requirements: If a background check leads you to decide not to hire a candidate, you must follow these steps: (1) Pre-Adverse Notice – inform the candidate, share the report, and provide a summary of their FCRA rights; (2) Opportunity to Dispute – allow the candidate to dispute errors and pause your decision until resolved; (3) Final Adverse Notice – if you proceed, notify the candidate again and share their rights and the report. Some providers may assist with these notices, but you remain responsible for compliance. For details, see the FTC’s summary of Employer Responsibilities under the FCRA
If you’ve filled the position or no longer need applicants, log in and go to My Jobs. Select the job you wish to remove and click Deactivate. The post will be hidden, your contact details removed, and new applications will stop. You can reactivate the job later if needed.
Go to Settings and select Deactivate Account. Your profile will be hidden and messaging disabled, but your information will be saved. To return, log in again and click Reactivate Account.
When you create or edit a job post, you can personalize it by adding a photo or an audio introduction. • Photo: In your My Jobs section, click the Edit icon next to the job listing. You can upload a photo related to that specific post (for example, a family photo or something that represents the job). To change or remove the image later, simply edit the post again, delete the photo (using the trash icon), or upload a new one. If no photo is uploaded, your main profile photo will appear by default. • Audio Introduction: In the same Edit Job section, you can also upload or record a short audio introduction to make your post more personal and engaging. Families often use this to briefly introduce themselves or explain what kind of help they’re looking for. You can update or remove this audio anytime by returning to the same section and selecting Replace or Delete Audio.
For privacy reasons, we do not display actual documents (like passports, driver’s licenses, or background checks). Instead, sitters’ profiles show badges confirming which documents they uploaded and that our team has reviewed them. At an interview, we recommend asking candidates to bring original hard copies of these documents so you can verify them yourself.
You can easily turn notifications on or off anytime in your Account Settings → Notifications. Emails: Open any email from AmericanSitters and click “Unsubscribe” at the bottom to stop receiving emails. To subscribe again, go to your Account Settings → Notifications and turn email alerts back on. Text Messages: To stop receiving text messages, reply STOP to any AmericanSitters text. To subscribe again, go to your Account Settings → Notifications and turn text messages back on. Tip: We recommend keeping important notifications (like new messages or job updates) enabled so you don’t miss anything important.